Joyce Tremmel

It is with deep grief that we say goodbye to our dear Joy, who passed away on January 12, 2024. Although we experience profound loss because she has moved on, we are relieved that she is at peace after suffering from pancreatic cancer. She was the embodiment of grace and bravery to the very last as she embraced this next phase of her journey. 

Joyce was born the fourth of six daughters on December 16, 1945, and grew up on the family farm some fifteen miles southeast of Stettler. It was here that she fell passionately in love with nature as she walked endlessly through the native prairie, exploring its flora and fauna while listening to the birds and tending to her beloved animals.

After high school, she attended the University of Alberta and graduated with a B.A. in Sociology, which qualified her for a job with the Department of Social Services in Prince Albert Saskatchewan. She had always seen Saskatchewan as a windy province with dust storms where you couldn’t smile for fear of getting your teeth all black and gritty. She thought she would stay here for a few years and then move back to Alberta, but she fell deeply in love with Saskatchewan and its people and never left.

At work, promotion followed promotion and she went on to complete her BSW and then her MSW. She eventually moved on to work at the MacNeil Clinic in the Department of Health. Here she developed many innovative programs to help children and parents who had been sexually abused. She was a passionate advocate for her clients, and they loved her in return.

She married the love of her life, George Enns in 1985. She was very committed to her three stepchildren. Amid a difficult family situation, she earned her way into their hearts and became loved and admired as the wonderful stepmother. When her youngest stepdaughter, Heather, was killed in an automobile accident, she devoted herself to Heather’s three young children; her deep sadness was having to leave them before they had grown up. Her passions in life were her family and working to facilitate reconciliation between First Nations and Settler communities.  

Joyce was predeceased by her parents, Richard and Mary Tremmel; sister, Joanne Daniel (Gared); her in laws George and Anna Enns; brother-in-law Henry Enns; sister-in-law Helen Rademaker; stepdaughter Heather Jocelyn and granddaughter, Madison Jocelyn.

She will be sorely missed by her husband of 38 years, George Enns; stepchildren Galen Enns (Marion) and Nathan Enns-Kavanagh (Kristin); grandchildren, Seth and Max Enns, Joey, Brayden and Brooklyn Jocelyn; her sisters Patricia Feugas (Bobby), Gail Tymkiw, Jackie Kmet (Dan), Connie Littlefair (Barry), special nieces Cleito David and Dianna Podmoroff and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.

The family would like to express deep appreciation to the staff at the Cancer Clinic, the Home Care Nurses, and the staff at St. Paul’s Hospital Palliative Care Unit, for their exceptional service and support

Celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, 2:00 p.m., at the Nutana Park Mennonite Church, 1701 Ruth Street East, Saskatoon, SK. Joyce's service will be available to view online at 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joyce’s memory to MCC (Mennonite Central Committee), St. Paul’s Hospital foundation, or the charity of your choice.